Raw food diet is a generic name for several diets. Other names include the raw foodie diet and the raw vegan diet. For the purposes of this article, I will use only raw food diet to represent all three. While there are some differences between them, they are all based on the idea of eating mainly raw foods. Included are vegetables, fruits, raw nuts, and seeds. Grains and dried beans, legumes are accepted by some versions as long as they are soaked or sprouted. Raw Food Diet: Basic Claims Made All versions of the raw food diet make some interesting, if unfounded, claims. Not to say t... (read more)

So many of us struggled to keep our weight down. My own struggle began about the time I began to notice boys. I had always been overweight for my size and height. But suddenly, I knew that I was unattractive. I really wanted to be liked, to be noticed, to do well in all situations. But every time I looked in the mirror I was looking at a body that did not mesh with my dreams. Somehow, I contracted the family genes on my father's side that led to being overweight. My two sisters and one brother were built much like my mother. I, on the other hand, resembled my maternal grandmother and her sibli... (read more)

People often ask me if weight loss surgery is worth the risks involved. My stock response is, "It depends." There are some serious risks involved with this, or any, major surgical procedure. With weight loss surgery, however, the serious side effects suggest that one not take lightly.
Some of the Risks of Weight Loss Surgery Most doctors do not recommend bariatric surgery unless their patient has a BMI of 40 or more. For men, this translates to around 100 pounds overweight. For women, the measure is 80 pounds overweight. A second criterion is that the patient has tried and failed at die... (read more)

The most frequent standard of weight loss is that accompanying a diet plan must be an exercise routine for weight loss. When most people think of exercise, what comes to mind is an expensive gym membership and fancy sneakers. But that picture is overstated. In fact, expensive memberships and clothing are not needed. There are any number of exercise activity that will support your efforts to lose weight. Exercise for Weight Loss: The One Mile Rule The one-mile rule is simple if you have errands to run within a one-mile radius of your home, WALK. Leave the car at home and walk. "But... (read more)

What motivates you to lose weight? Is that motivation sustainable over a long period of time? Are you able to share that motivation with other people? Is your motivator internal or external? These are all important questions as you explore the possibilities of what motivates you.
Let's say that in today's mail an invitation to your 10th high school reunion arrived. The reunion is still six-months away so you have time to plan. You think out loud, "Wow, in high school I wore jeans with a 36-inch waist. Now my waist is 40 inches. What will they think of me, gaining all that weight." Right t... (read more)

In this article I review the Paleo or Caveman Diet. The foundation of the Paleo Diet is that if we eat in the same way that our Stone Age ancestors ate, we will be healthier, fitter, skinnier, and so on. Loren Cordain, Ph.D., the author of The Paleo DIet argues that eating the way the caveman ate, a high protein and fiber diet, we will be thinner for sure. It is also posited that we will be less likely to develop diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other health problems like arthritis. While I am a fan of the dietary approach in general, I am astounded that Dr. Cordain, se... (read more)

Weight loss science suggests that weight is lost by consuming fewer calories than one burns in a day. Conversely, weight gain occurs by eating more calories than one burns in a day. The accumulation of days suggests the trend of gain or loss. This concept seems so simple that anyone should be able to lose weight without expending much effort. The truth is that this is simply not the case. People of all kinds struggle with dieting to lose weight. We believe this is because people choose a diet with far too little information. This means they often select a plan that does not suit their mak... (read more)

[Background] I recently visited my hometown where the weather can change very drastically. I went from 90+ degrees and very sunny on a daily basis to 40 degrees and rainy weather in my hometown. I should have known better from being born and raised in the state, but I was dressed very unprepared from the weather. Needless to say, I got quite sick from the drastic weather change. Since I haven’t had a sore throat in quite some time, the pain was very bad this time around. My throat would practically close if my mouth started to feel dry and the fever made my overall wellness feel very low.... (read more)

KILLING AND HUMANITY. THE QUESTION OF MEAT Can such barbarity ever be called legal or moral ? That is the question raised as the lamb for Sunday dinner cried gently for over five minutes as the knife cut deeply into its throat. The blood spurted out against the unadulterated beauty of the impeccably white creature, choking gradually in its sobs - and yet it seemed to accept its fate and stand still waiting to die. The butcher gasped, and struggled not to panic under the gaze of his bleach white wife. He swallowed visibly as if his throat was on fire and howled with such distr... (read more)

We all get awesome wedding gifts. One of mine forty years ago was a Farberware coffee pot. It was an 8 cup perk and it cranked out wonderful coffee for a year or so. It met its' demise through Babcie, my mother-in-law. She was a devoted instant coffee drinker. So, the weekend that my parents came to visit, she filled the Farberware with water and put it on the stove to heat the water. She wanted us to have fresh coffee when we got up but confused the two methods of making it. My dad was first up. He hit the top of the stairs and smelled the acrid odor of the burning pot, flew down to t... (read more)

For many homeowners, finding the best pressure canner to preserve a number of foodstuffs at home can prove to be a real gamble. Canning Fruits and vegetables with a pressure canner are the safest way to preserve them. How to Choose the Best Pressure Canner? You’ve come to the right place. Without the right knowledge, many homeowners might probably end up with a pressure canner that performs way below their expectations. The best pressure canners come with so many features to go for if you must enjoy its use. These features will include the gauges, plastic handles, pressure relief val... (read more)

Which restaurant is your favorite? If its chefs don’t make every menu item from scratch, perhaps it’s time to change your favorite. Dining at a scratch restaurant in Waterford Lakes, FL, offers several benefits over large chains or other restaurants that don’t create everything right in their own kitchens. Consider what you’ll be getting when your food is made from scratch.
You’ll Get Fresher Ingredients
Some restaurants create their menu items from frozen, pre-cooked ingredients. While this is more convenient for the kitchen staff, convenience doesn’t often lend itself to a great-ta... (read more)

When it comes to cooking from scratch in Winter Park, FL, it doesn’t get much better than Marlow’s. Who can resist the opportunity to dine out when they are too tired to cook at home? It doesn’t matter if you eat there very blue moon or several times a week, you’ll always enjoy the food, drinks and service you get when you’re there.
On the days you’re not able to go out to eat, there’s no reason for you to feel so distressed. You may be able to have a similar dining experience with some careful planning. Think about what your favorite meals are. Are any of them ones that you are willing t... (read more)

Nutrition and body well-being from inside out are overlooked in modern days. We focus on outer appearance and sometimes miss that treating the inner causes is by far more successful on the longer run than treating the outer consequences.
During the past years, I became increasingly interested in holistic approaches and methods to improve mind, body and spirit. Today I would like to share useful information I have come across and collected over time related to body wellbeing. Please take what you need from this article. It’s an invitation to reflection and an encouragement to deeper resear... (read more)

A pizza paddle is a culinary tool that resembles a shovel. It can even be described as a giant spatula. It is used by all professional pizza makers primarily to transport pizza in and out of the oven. A paddle also makes pizza making at home so much easier, especially while using a pizza stone.
Why Wooden Paddles Work So Well
Wooden paddles are highly recommended for home baked pizzas, especially when using a stone oven, a traditional oven, or a convectional oven. Wooden paddles are great because the handles are less likely to conduct heat than those made of metal. They are also easy... (read more)

You don't always have to wait at the door for the pizza delivery guy to show up. Reason being, the power to grill pizza to your liking is in your hand. In fact, grilled pizza is now the way to go, thanks to the fact that pizza stones make it even much more easier than before.
The reason why we love pizza that has been grilled on a stone is because it gives a smoky flavor that can't be achieved by any oven out there. Also, the baking stone will make your pizza develop the much beloved crispy crust since it absorbs all moisture while it prepares the dish for you.
Also, if you're grilli... (read more)

Planning out a week's worth of meals at home is hard enough; it seems nearly impossible if you plan out all of the meals for a week-long camping trip. After all, you won't have those easy fall-back options of going out to eat or making a grilled cheese sandwich. The only food you will have is the food that you bring with you, so it's important that you plan out your meals carefully and ensure that you have everything you need. This article will give you a few tips on planning a menu for your camping trip so that you don't end up scavenging for berries at the end of your trip. Plan around the... (read more)

Have you ever gotten the craving for perfect homemade pizza? The kind that seems to be the staple of Food Network shows, and that are impossible to make without expensive odds and ends? Well it's possible to do this now in your own backyard with your handy-dandy Big Green EGG! And - oh wait this article is putting the carriage in front of the horse here. You're probably wondering what a Big Green EGG is - in fact that's probably why you clicked on this in the first place. Basically the Big Green EGG is a complete outdoor cooking system that allows for a diverse cooking set -from baking to roas... (read more)

Choosing the right pizza stone is not a walk in the park. There are several factors that you need to take into account to ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for. For example, you should be aware that pizza stones are manufactured using various materials like ceramic, stone, hard clay, marble, tile, and fire brick. Each of these materials has its own advantages and disadvantages. They also come in different sizes, shapes, and thickness. Generally speaking, what you should be looking for is one that adapts easily to heat and one that's durable enough to withstand repeated usage. ... (read more)

The concept of a homemade baking stone has been rising in popularity lately as more and more people acquire this piece of kitchen accessory. A known fact is people have a soft spot for pizza. And to ensure they have it readily available and prepared in a safe and hygienic environment, many opt to make their own pizza. Part of making a good and sumptuous pizza has to do with even distribution of heat. This ensures the dish is properly cooked and comes out looking yummy and appealing. To achieve this, people are choosing to make their own pizza stones rather than buying them ready-made in a box ... (read more)

If you love baking bread, pizza, cookies and all the rest, you know how costly the utensils can be. Maybe you've already heard about Fibrament baking stones and how they bake glorious pastries which are hard to achieve when you just an ordinary baking pan.
If you prefer crusty artisan or hearth-styled pastries, then a Fibrament stone does a fantastic job producing them.
When you put dough into your oven, heat from the walls of the oven will begin to penetrate it through convection (where hot air circulates inside the oven chamber). As a result, the pizza, cake or bread you're bakin... (read more)

A pizza stone is a simple kitchen utensil that is used and known for baking pizzas that come out of the oven with a more crispy crust. Pizza stones are also known for producing pizzas that are less fattening. These baking devices work by stimulating the extreme and even heat of an oven, especially the ones that use wood fire. These stones can also be used commercially in the restaurants of big hotels for instance, to make the perfect pizza for the customers. They can also be used in home ovens or on a grill giving the pizza a crispier and healthier crust. These special stones are quite easy to... (read more)

Pizza is one of the most popular snacks in the world. What is so amazing about it is the fact that it provides more or less a balanced diet that consists of carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals and protein. It is very easy to make for yourself at home and this allows you to garnish as you wish and add the toppings you prefer, if any. Pizza can be baked in a modern oven using an aluminum or metal pan, but there is no denying the superior taste quality of pizza made using a hot stone. The Williams-Sonoma pizza stone is a great example of bakeware that is able to replicate the pizzas made in... (read more)

In case you have a yearning for pizza, but cannot figure out how you can keep up with the rising cost of ordering one from the bakery, consider investing in a baking stone and honing your home-baking skills. A baking stone? That's right. Hang in there. Well, a baking stone, or what is also commonly referred to as a pizza stone is simply a natural stone (such as granite or marble) with a flat surface on top. The stones are primarily used in preparing baked foods such as bread or pizza but are not limited to these foods. Moreover, these so-called stones can also be made from other materials such... (read more)